(Best E Casino) - Mike Mussina takes aim at win No. 13 this afternoon when the New York Yankees try and cap an unbeaten six-game homestand with a three- game sweep of the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium.

Mussina, who is one win behind Cleveland's Cliff Lee for the league lead, bettered his win total from all of last season in his last start on Friday against Oakland, as he allowed a run and nine hits in six innings to run his record to 12-6 on the season, while lowering his earned run average to 3.49.

The 39-year-old righty defeated the Twins earlier in the season and has been magnificent against them over the course of his career, posting a 21-6 mark with a 3.18 ERA in 31 starts.

New York, which is now just 3 1/2 games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East, won its ninth straight home game and fifth straight contest overall on Tuesday, as Bobby Abreu hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs, helping the Yankees to an 8-2 win.

Robinson Cano went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, while Derek Jeter drove in two runs for New York, which has not won 10 straight in the Bronx since July 26- August 14, 1998.

Cano has been a big reason behind the Yanks' recent surge, recording a multi- hit effort in each of his five games since the break, while going 12-for-23 in those contests with seven RBI. Since he entered the league in 2005, only St. Louis' Albert Pujols has a better average among active players after the All- Star break than Cano's .339.

Darrell Rasner lasted 5 2/3 frames and yielded just two runs on four hits. David Robertson (2-0) got the win despite recording only the final out in the sixth inning.

Jason Kubel recorded the only RBI for the Twins, who have dropped three straight and 4-of-6 overall. Carlos Gomez had a double, which was the only extra-base hit for Minnesota.

Kevin Slowey (6-7) was dealt the loss as he gave up four runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.

Heading to the hill for the Twins this afternoon will be left-hander Glen Perkins, who is 7-2 with a 3.84 ERA. Perkins won his fifth straight decision on Friday against Texas, as he scattered three hits over six scoreless innings.

Perkins lost to Mussina and the Yanks back on May 30 when he gave up five runs and 10 hits in just four innings.

The Yankees, who head to Boston for a three-game series starting on Friday, have won four of their six matchups with the Twins this year, but hold a 9-4 advantage in the series since the start of last season.

Minnesota has also dropped 18 of its last 21 trips to the Bronx.